Folding typewriter



Apr. 17,1923'.

C. O. NOACK FOLDING TYPEWRI'TER Original Filed March 2l 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Apr. 17,1923. 1,452,254

y c. o. NoAcK FOLDING TYPEWRITER Original Filed March 2l, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @53M @HC-om-/LQCQ a I Patented-Apr. f7, 1923. 1

UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL 0. NOACK, F STAMEEORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE HAMMOND TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.`

y FOLDING TYPEWRITER,

`Application led March 21, 1921, Serial No. 453,864. Renewed October 2, 1922. Serial No. 591,987.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

k\ Be it known that I, CARL O. NOAGK, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Stamford and State of Connecticut, have 5 invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Typewriters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding typewriters, such for instance as that shown and described in Letters Patent 1,284,714

granted to Edward Krusius on November 12th, 1918.

The typewriter just referred to is primarily distinguished by the fact that the 15 keyboard thereof is mounted in a foldable frame section which i-s pivotally connected to the main section of the machine frame. 'With regard to the means disclosed in the above identified patent for the purpose of shifting the type carrier bythe depression of the ligure or capital levers, with which the present application is particularly concerned, it has been foundv in practice that the patented structure has certain serious disadvantages. It will for instance be observed upon referenceto the said patent and particularly to Figure 5 thereof, that when the keyboard carrying frame section is folded, the actuator arm for shifting the type carriage contacts with the surface of the table or desk on, which the machine is arranged, and in order to prevent interference with the folding movement of the keyboard, provision is made for permitting of a relative movement between the said actuator arm and the keyboard.

It is the primary object and purpose of the present invention-to improve and simplify the means for transmitting movement from the figure and capital levers of the keyboard to the shiftable type carrier and to permit of the proper folding movement of the keyboard carrying frame without `interference or contact of any of the parts with the table or desk. In other words, in 'the impro-vedv construction, all parts mounted in the keyboard carrying frame remain relatively stationary and move as a unit with said frame throughoutits folding movement. I am thus enabled to eliminate the use of springs or other fragile and easily breakable elements, and at the same time, rende-r such mechanism more substantial and reliable in its operation, while reducing the necessity of repairs to a minimum.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists inthe improved combination, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters designate .corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which I haveillustrated one practical and satisfactory embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a folling typewriter of a well known make an Figure 2 is .a fragmentary bottom plan v1ew.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated, in a generalway, a familiar type of t pewriter machine for the purpose of disc osing one adaptation of the present invention. Therefore, this machine will not be herein described in detail but for the purpose of the present explanation, it will sufice to state that the machine includes a main frame section 5 upon which the platen carriage and type carrier are mounted or supported, and a keyboard carrying frame section 6, which is pivotally connected, as at 7, to the front end of the'main frame 5. As herein illustrated, the type carrier 8 is ixed'upon the upper end of a vertically shiftable rod 9 which is suitably mounted and guided in the main frame 5.

The .series of operating keys for the various letters, numerals and symbols are fulcrumedupon the frame section 6. These keys are not illustrated in the raccompanying drawings, as they have no necessary relation to the subject matter of this application, but if desired, a description of the mounting and arrangement of these keys may be had upon reference to the issued patent above identified.

At each end of the keyboard the ligure and capital levers are arranged, and for an understanding of'my invention, the illu-stration in the drawing of the mounting and arrangement of one pair of these levers at one end of the keyboard is sufficient, since the levers at the opposite end of the keyboard are mounted in identically the same manner.

Rearwardly of the front bar of the pivoted frame section 6 and in parallel relation thereto, the rockshaft 10 is journaled at its position.

ends in the end portions of said frame section. Upon this shaft, approximately at the center thereof, a lever 1 1 iis rigidly fixed and extends rearwardly from the shaft at a downward inclination and through a slotted guide plate 12 which is fixedto the rear end of the frame section 6. The end portion of this lever extending rearwardly beyond the plate 12 has an upwardly curved terminal 13 in which apin 14 is fixed.

An actuator arm 15 is pivoted at one of its ends upon the main frame 5 as shown at 16 and adjacent to the pivot has an end edge 17 adapted to abut against the stop plate 18 to limit the pivotal movement of the arm 15 in one direction to its normal This arm extends forwardly and upwardly from its pivoted end and is provided with a curved upper edge 19 which constitutes a cam surface coacting with the lower end of the rod or spindle 9. At its forward end, the actuator arm 15 is provided with a horizontal lower edge 2O with which the pin 14 at one side of the lever 11 engages.

Upon the rockshaft 10 adjacent to one end thereof a substantially U-shaped plate 21' is fixed, the arms of said plate depending below the rockshaft and the central portion of the plate connecting said arms to each other having an upwardly projecting flange 22 disposed between the forward edges of the arms. The figure lever 23 and the capital lever 24 are loosely engaged upon the rockshaft 10 between the arms of the plate 21 and are held in spaced relation to each other by means of the collar 25 which is fixed upon said shaft. Each of these levers at its end, is formed with a downwardly projecting finger 26 which is engaged against the front side of the vertical flange 22. The levers 23 and 24 extend through slots in the front bar of the pivoted frame section 6 and are normally forced up* wardly against the stop bar 27 by means of suitable springs such as that indicated at 28, which are arranged in the slots of the frame. The downward movement of each of these levers is -limited by an adjustable screw 29 so that the type carrier will be shifted to the desired extent, as will presently be explained.

Assuming that the keyboard carrying frame 6 is in its normal operative position as shown in full lines in Figure 1, when either the capital or the figure key is depressed, its finger 26 acting against the flange 22 of the plate 21 rocks the shaft 10, thereby throwing the rear end of the lever 11 upwardly. The pin 14 carried by this lever engaging the lower edge 2() of the actype carrier 8 vertically to the desired eX- tent. Promptly upon the relase of pressure on the key lever, the several parts will return to their normal positions, as will be readily understood. lVhen the machine is to be folded, the keyboard carrying frame G is swung upwardly to the dotted line position seen in Figure l of the drawing, and in this movement it will be apparent that the levers 23 and 24, the rockshaft 10 and the lever 11 will all remain in fixed position with respect to each other and will move as a single unit with the frame section 6. The pin 14 on the rear end of the lever 11 simply moves away from the horizontal edge 20 of the arm 15, the downward pivotal movement of said arm from its normal position being prevented by contact of its rear end edge 17 against the stop plate 18. lV hen the keyboard carrying frame section 6 is again swung downwardly to operative position, the lever 11 and the pin 14 will automatically assume the proper position for co-operation'with the actuator arm 15.

Thus it will be seen that by the provision of the actuator 'arm 15 mounted in the sta- .tionary main-frame 5, I have succeeded in materially simplifying the prior patented construction and also positioned the several parts so that they do not in any way interfere with the free folding movement of the keyboard carrying frame section by reason of the contacting engagement of any one of such parts with the surface of the table or base.

From the foregoing' description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation illustrative of one adaptation of my im provement.

Also, in the application of the invention to other typewriter constructions, it may be found necessary or desirable to resort to numerous minor mechanical alterations. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the essentials of the present invention may be exemplified in numerous other alternative constructions, and, I, therefore, reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several partsv as may be fairly embodied within the Spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: p

l. In combination with a typewriter having a main frame keyboard carrying frame foldable relatively to the main frame and a shiftable type carrier mounted on the main frame; an actuator arm for the type carrier, and key-actuated means mounted in the keyboard carrying frame and coacting with said actuator arm in the normal position of the frame, said means remaining relatively stationary and moving as a unit with said frame rthroughout the folding movement thereof.

2. In combination with al typewriter havl ing a main frame, a keyboard carrying frame foldable relatively to the main frame and a shif'table type carrier mounted on the main frame; an actuator arm for the type carrier pivoted on the main frame, a key lever pivotally `mounted in the keyboard' carrying frame, a second lever mounted in said frame and coacting with the actuator arm upon a depression of the key lever to shift the type carrier, and means operatively connecting said second named lever and the key lever and movable as a unit therewith during the folding movement of the keyboard carrying frame. A

3. In combination with a typewriter having a foldable keyboard carrying frame and a shiftable type carrier; a pivotally mounted actuator arm for shifting the type carrier, a rockshaft mounted in the keyboard carrying frame, a key lever' loosely mounted on said shaft, a second lever fixed to said shaft and having means coacting with the actuator arm in the normal position of said frame to shift the said carrier but separable from said arm when the frame is folded, and coacting means on Vthe key lever and rockshaft to impart an operative movement to the actuator arm when the key lever is depressed in the normal position of said frame, said second named lever and lthe key lever maintaining relatively stationary positions and moving as a unit with said frame during the folding movement thereof.

4. In a typewriter having a foldable keyboard carrying frame and a shiftable type carrier, a pivoted actuator arm for the type carrier, a rockshaft mounted in the l keyboard carrying frame, capital and fi re key levers loosely mounted on the rocks aft, an

additional lever fixed to'said shaft and having means coactin'g with the free'end of the actuator arm but separable therefrom when said frame is folded, and means fixed upon said shaft and with which each of said key levers coacts to rock said shaft and impart an operative movement to the actuator arm to shift the type carrier, said key levers and the additional lever remaining relatively stationary and moving asa unit with said frame during the folding movement thereof.

5. In combination with a typewriter having a main frame and a foldable keyboard carrying frame and a type carrier mounted in the main'frame; a pivoted actuator arm for the type carrier mounted in the main frame, a rockshaft mounted in the keyboard carrying frame, capital and figure key levers loosely mounted on said rockshaft, an additional lever fixed upon said rockshaft and eX- tending rearwardly therefrom, means fixerI in the rear end of said lever adapted to coact with the free end of the actuatorl arm in the normal position of said keyboard'carrying frame but separable therefrom in the folding movement of said frame, each of said key levers having a depending finger, and a member fixed upon the rockshaft and with which said fingers coact to rock said shaft when one of the levers is depressed and thereby impart an operative movement to the actuator arm to shift the type carrier, said key levers and the additional lever remaining relatively stationary and moving .as a unit with the keyboard carrying frame throughout the folding movement thereof.

6. In combination with a typewriter hav-y ing a main frame, a keyboard carrying frame foldable relatively to the main frame, and a shiftable type carrier mounted on the main frame, an actuator arm for the type carrier pivoted on the main frame and key actuated lever mechanism mounted on the keyboard carrying frame and co-acting with said actuator arm in the normal position of the frame, said mechanism remaining relatively stationary and moving as a unit with said frame throughout the folding movement thereof. I

In testimony'that I claim the foregoing as -my invention, that I havev signed my name hereunder. p

' CARL O. NOACK. 

